Dispensing container



March 23, 1937. E. F. METCALFE DISPENSING CONTAINER Filed May 10, 1955 INVENTOR. EA/PL EMETCAL FE- ATTORNEYS.

STATES PATENT OFFICE DISPENSING CONTAINER Earl F. Metcalfe, Cincinnati, Ohio, assignor to The General Pharmacal Company, Cincinnati, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application May 10, 1935, Serial No. 20,824

6 Claims. (01. 221-95) My invention relates to dispensing containers the frictional engagement thereon of one of the and particularly to a dispensing container in cap members which form a cooperating part of which a measuring chamber is associated with the dispensing apparatus. An internal cap the dispensing opening. fits frictionally on the tapered annular portion 5 It is an object of my invention to provide a 3. The internal cap has outwardly projecting 5 dispensing container which can be inexpensively ribs 6 which register with an outwardly formed manufactured and in which, due to the manipuannular portion 1 in an external cap member 8. lation of the cap members of the container, a For purposes of convenience in the manufacmeasured charge may be dispensed. ture of the external cap member I have shown n Another object of my invention is the provia two-part cap formed of the annular member sion of a dispensing container in which the 8 and an external cap member 9 which as indimanipulation of the can topto measure a cercated at In frictionally fits exteriorly of the antain charge of the material within the container nular member 8. The members 8 and 9 can, may be simply made, and in which the mechanhowever, be formed from a single piece.

5 ical features of construction are such that there The cap member 9 has a neck ll threaded as is substantially no likelihood of the dispensing indicated to receive a closure member 12 having apparatus getting out of order. a threaded portion which engages the threaded Another object of my invention is the proviportion of the neck. sion of dispensing mechanism in association with Within the neck the measuring chamber I3 is 0; a can closure which will be neat and attractive formedv which, for purposes of illustration may in appearance and sufficiently simple in conbe considered to have sufficient capacity to construction that its operation will be readily untain one teaspoonful of the ingredients of the derstood by anyone with normal intelligence. container.

A further object of my invention is the provi- The cap member 8 has a semi-circular cutsion of a dispensing container in which the disaway portion l4 through which material will 25 pensing apparatus may be manipulated without flow, when the can is inverted into the measurthe necessity of other manipulation than a siming chamber. The internal cap member also has ple turning of an external cap'member assoa stop l5 which may, as indicated, be formed up ciated with the discharge opening in the confrom the metal.

tainer. The external cap member 8 also has a semi- 30 The objects to which I have referred and other circular opening l6 therein which in certain poobjects which will appear in the following desitions of the external cap member will register scription I accomplish by that certain combinawith the semi-circular opening M in the internal tion and arrangement of parts of which I have cap member 5.

, illustrated a preferred embodiment. Referring In manipulating the measuring compartment to the drawing the person who wishes to measure out, for ex- Figure 1 is a perspective view with cutaway ample a teaspoonful of medicine from the can parts revealing the internal construction of the turns the cap 9 including the annular portion 1 dispensing apparatus. thereof in a clockwise direction as illustrated.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the container with This causes the edge of the opening IE to contact 40 the cover or closure member removed and with the stop member l5 and limit the rotary movethe dispensing apparatus moved to a position in ment of the external cap. The can is then inwhich the dispensing opening is operative. verted and while inverted the external cap mem- Figure 3 is a plan view similar to that of Figher 9 is again rotated through a half circle in ure 2 with the dispensing apparatus manipulated a clockwise direction which causes the solid wall 45 so that the dispensing opening into the measurportion ll of the annular external cap portion ing chamber is closed. 8 to close the opening with a charge to be dis- I have illustrated a circular container l formed pensed retained within the measuring chamber preferably from sheet metal such as tin and with l3 in the neck of the composite cap. The threada bottom wall 2 cramped into place to form a ed closure member I2 is then unscrewed and the 50 permanent closure for the bottom of the conmeasured charge of the material may be poured tainer. into water or otherwise suitably dispensed.

At the top of the container as illustrated, there Having thus described my invention, what I is an annular tapered portion 3 open at the top claim as new and desire to secure by Letters and with a shoulder 4 formed at the base to limit Patent, is:-- 55 1. A container having associated with the discharge portion thereof a measuring chamber, said container having a round internal cap frictionally received on an open round walled end of the container and having a dispensing opening therein, a round external cap member fitting on said internal cap member and also having a dispensing opening, said caps provided with cooperating means to permit rotary but nonremovable movement of the external cap on the internal cap, said external cap having a neck containing a measuring chamber and a discharge portion provided with a closure chamber, and means for limiting the rotary movement of the external cap on the internal, cap with the openings in registeredand non-registered closed position.

2. A container having associated with the discharge portion thereof a measuring chamber, said container having a round internal cap Irictionally received on an openround Walled end -of.the container and having a dispensing opening therein, a round external cap member fitting on said internal cap member and also having a, dispensing opening, said caps provided with cooperating means to permit rotary but non-removable movement of the external cap on the internal cap, said external cap having a neck containing a measuring chamber and a discharge portion provided with .a closure chamber, and means for limiting the rotary movement of the external cap on the internal cap with the openings invregistered and nonregistered closed position, said means comprising a lug' extending from said internal cap adapted to abut the edges of the cap surrounding the opening in the external cap at its rotary limits of movement.

3. In combination with a container, dispensing and measuring mechanism associated therewith comprising a cap member having a neck provided with a screw cap, and means for dis charging material from said container to fill the space Within said neck upon screwing up of said cap.

4. A container having associated with the discharge portion thereof a measuring chamber, said container having a round internal cap frictionally received on an open round Walled end of the container and having a dispensing opening therein, a round external cap member fitting on said internal cap member and also hav-' ing a dispensing opening, said caps provided with cooperating means to permit rotary but non-removable movementof the external cap on the internal cap, said external cap having a neck containing a measuring chamber and a discharge portion provided with a closure chamber; and means for indicating the open and closed positions of the external cap on the internal cap.

5. A dispensing container having a neck, a measuring compartment within said neck provided with a screw cap, and valve means for permitting the flow of a measured quantity of material from said container into said compartment when said container is supported in inverted position, and means opening said valve when said cap is being screwed on, and closing said valve when said cap is being unscrewed.

6. A dispensing container having a neck, a

measuring compartment within said neck provided with a screw cap, and valve means for permitting the flow of a measured quantity of material from said container into said compartment when said container is supported in inverted position, said valve means actuable by a manual rotary manipulation of the neck of said container, in a direction to open said valve upon screwing on of said cap, and to close the same upon unscrewing of said cap.

EARL F. METCALFE. 

